Return to Ravnica Prerelease and Release Events

Chris KiritzTuesday, September 25, 2012

hoose your allegiance carefully, Planeswalker.

The Return to Ravnica set marks the long-awaited return to the city-plane of Ravnica and its ten ancient two-color guilds. Return to Ravnica focuses on five guilds—Azorius, Izzet, Rakdos, Golgari, and Selesnya—but the city is home to many different races and many different intrigues. Return to Ravnica doesn’t just take you back to one of the most popular Magic settings of all time, however, this set also heralds several exciting new changes for Magic Online set releases!

Play Sooner!

The Magic team has been working hard to better integrate paper and digital Magic releases, and as Ryan Spain discussed several months ago, we are continuing to adjust Magic release schedules to be complete and complimentary experiences. While the last few Duel Decks releases have been simultaneous with their paper counterparts, Return to Ravnica represents the first full set that will be released under this new system and it will be available in Magic Online earlier than ever before!

Magic Online Prerelease events begin on October 13 at 12:00 AM (midnight)—right after Friday Night Magic ends—and will run through the weekend. As soon as the Prereleases end Monday morning at 10:00 AM, Return to Ravnica will be available in the Magic Online Store—a full week earlier than the previous schedule. In addition, Return to Ravnica Release Event queues (sealed deck and draft) begin the same time the set goes on sale so players won't have to wait before jumping into a draft!

Choose your Guild!

Ten guilds, each aligned with two of the five colors of magic, are vying for control of the vast city-world of Ravnica. This conflict carries over to the Return to Ravnica Prerelease as well. When you head to your friendly local game store for the Return to Ravnica Prerelease, you will declare your allegiance and get a corresponding Guild Prerelease Pack that includes five Return to Ravnica boosters, a guild specific booster pack, and your Prerelease promo card (along with some other goodies).

The Magic Online experience is very similar. You'll purchase the Guild Mark for your favorite guild from the Magic Online Store for $5.00 USD, and then use that Guild Mark and 20 Event Tickets to enter the Return to Ravnica Prerelease Sealed Deck Queue. Your Guild Mark will determine which guild booster pack and Prerelease card you get, and just like paper, you will be able to use your Prerelease card in your deck! You can check out the Guild Marks and Prerelease promo cards below. To learn more about the guilds, visit GuildsofRavnica.com.

The Azorius Senate

The Izzet League

The Cult of Rakdos

The Golgari Swarm

The Selesnya Conclave

Play with the Pros

Return to Ravnica will be available during Pro Tour Return to Ravnica in Seattle, which means you can draft on MTGO while watching your favorite pros draft via our live event coverage. In addition, with the deck export feature that accompanies all new deck lists on the Magic website, you can import your favorite Modern lists right into Magic Online as soon as they are available, putting the latest deck tech right at your fingertips!

Moving Forward

This release represents an exciting step for Magic Online. MTGO players will get to experience the full Return to Ravnica guild experience just one week after the set is released in paper while competitive players will be able to dive into a draft earlier than ever. Players can check out the full Prerelease and Release Event details below.

Whether a first time visitor or a long time fan, have fun exploring the streets of Ravnica.

eturn to Ravnica Prerelease Events

Return to Ravnica Prerelease events start at 12:00 AM (midnight) on October 13, end at 10:00 AM on October 15, and will consist of two parts: the Return to Ravnica Prerelease Sealed Deck Queue and the Return to Ravnica Swiss Booster Draft Queue. Both events will be available for the duration of the Return to Ravnica Prerelease.

Please note, the Sealed Deck Queue will be a guild experience and requires players to purchase a Guild Mark to participate. Guild Marks are untradeable event entry objects that will be available in the Magic Online Store on Thursday, October 11, at 10:00 AM until Monday, October 15, at 11:00 AM and will determine what guild booster pack and prerelease promo card each player will get during deck building.

RETURN TO RAVNICA PRERELEASE SEALED DECK QUEUESTART TIMES: On demand beginning Saturday, October 13, at 12:00 AM (midnight) and ending Monday, October 15, at 10:00 AM.LOCATION: Release Queues room. ENTRY OPTION(S): 20 Event Tickets plus a Return to Ravnica Guild Mark. PRODUCT: Magic Online will provide 5 Return to Ravnica booster packs and 1 Guild booster pack (including prerelease promo card) that matches the Guild Mark used to enter.SIZE: 16 Players. DURATION: Deck building time plus four rounds, Swiss pairings. Play in all four rounds, win or lose! PRIZES: Prizes are based on the total Match Points at the end of the tournament. Each match win awards 3 points and each match loss awards 0 points.

Match Points

Prizes

QPs

12

10 Return to Ravnica booster packs

3

9

4 Return to Ravnica booster packs

1

6

1 Return to Ravnica booster pack

0

ADDITIONAL PRIZES: This prerelease promo card is included in the guild booster pack used during deck creation.

RETURN TO RAVNICA SWISS BOOSTER DRAFT QUEUESSTART TIMES: On demand beginning Saturday, October 13, at 12:00 AM (midnight) and ending Monday, October 15, at 10:00 AM.LOCATION: Release Queues room.ENTRY OPTION(S): 15 Event Tickets.PRODUCT:Magic Online will provide three Return to Ravnica booster packs for this event.SIZE: 8 Players.DURATION: Drafting and deck building time plus three rounds, Swiss pairings. Play all three rounds, win or lose!PRIZES: Prizes are based on the total Match Points at the end of the tournament. Each match win awards 3 points and each match loss awards 0 points.

Match Points

Prizes

QPs

9

4 Return to Ravnica booster packs

1

6

2 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

3

1 Return to Ravnica booster pack

0

ADDITIONAL PRIZES: There will not be any additional promo cards given out for draft queue participation.

eturn to Ravnica Release Events

Return to Ravnica will be available in the Magic Online Store on Monday, October 15, at 10:00 AM. Return to Ravnica Release Events consist of five parts:

Return to Ravnica becomes legal in ALL Constructed formats following the October 10 scheduled downtime. All appropriate Daily Events, Scheduled Events, and Queues will have Return to Ravnica added to their prize structures after the scheduled maintenance on Wednesday, October 17.

RETURN TO RAVNICA BOOSTER DRAFT QUEUESSTART TIME: On demand starting Monday, October 15, at 10:00 AM until the beginning of the scheduled downtime on Wednesday, October 31.LOCATION: Release Queues room.ENTRY OPTION(S): 14 Event Tickets OR 2 Event Tickets plus product.PRODUCT: 3 Return to Ravnica booster packs.SIZE: 8 players.DURATION: Drafting and deck building time plus three rounds, single elimination, or three rounds, Swiss pairings.PRIZES: Prizes for single elimination events are based on placement at the end of the tournament. Prizes for Swiss pairing events are based on total Match Points at the end of the tournament. Each match win awards 3 points and each match loss awards 0 points.

Return to Ravnica 4-3-2-2 Draft

Place

Prizes

QPs

1st

4 Return to Ravnica booster packs

1

2nd

3 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

3rd–4th

2 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

Return to Ravnica 8-4 Draft

Place

Prizes

QPs

1st

8 Return to Ravnica booster packs

1

2nd

4 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

Return to Ravnica Swiss Draft

Match Points

Prizes

QPs

9

3 Return to Ravnica booster packs

1

6

2 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

3

1 Return to Ravnica booster pack

0

ADDITIONAL PRIZES: Each player who participates in a Return to Ravnica Booster Draft queue will receive a Rakdos, Lord of Riots avatar.

RETURN TO RAVNICA16-PLAYER SEALED DECK QUEUES START TIME: On demand starting Monday, October 15, at 10:00 AM until the beginning of the scheduled downtime on Wednesday, October 31.LOCATION: Release Queues room.ENTRY OPTION(S): 24 Event Tickets.PRODUCT:Magic Online will provide 6 Return to Ravnica booster packs for this event.SIZE: 16 players.DURATION: Deck building time plus four rounds, Swiss pairings.PRIZES: Prizes are based on total Match Points at the end of the tournament. Each match win awards 3 points and each match loss awards 0 points.

Match Points

Prizes

QPs

12

13 Return to Ravnica booster packs

3

9

8 Return to Ravnica booster packs

1

6

3 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

ADDITIONAL PRIZES: Each player who participates in a Return to Ravnica Release Sealed Deck queue will receive a Trostani, Selesnya's Voice avatar. In addition, players with at least 9 Match Points will receive a Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius avatar.

Trostani, Selesnya's Voice

Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius

RETURN TO RAVNICA 64-PLAYER TOP 8 PREMIER DRAFTSSTART TIME: Scheduled start times beginning Friday, October 19, and ending Friday, November 2.LOCATION: Scheduled Events room.ENTRY OPTION(S): 20 Event Tickets OR 8 Event Tickets plus product.PRODUCT: 3 Return to Ravnica booster packs. Magic Online will provide 3 Return to Ravnica booster packs for the Top 8 booster draft.SIZE: 64 Players.DURATION: Drafting and deck building time plus three rounds, single elimination. The Top 8 will consist of drafting and deck building time plus three rounds, single elimination.PRIZES:

Place

Prizes

QPs

1st

24 Return to Ravnica booster packs

6

2nd

18 Return to Ravnica booster packs

5

3rd–4th

12 Return to Ravnica booster packs

4

5th–8th

9 Return to Ravnica booster packs

3

9th–16th

4 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

17th–32nd

2 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

ADDITIONAL PRIZES: Each player in a Return to Ravnica 64-Player Top 8 Premier Draft will receive a Jarad, Lich Lord of the Golgari avatar. In addition, players who finish in the Top 8 will receive an Isperia, Supreme Judge avatar and qualify for the Return to Ravnica Release Events Championship.

ADDITIONAL PRIZES: Each player in a Return to Ravnica Top 8 Sealed Deck Event will receive a Jarad, Lich Lord of the Golgari avatar. In addition, players who finish in the Top 8 will receive an Isperia, Supreme Judge avatar and qualify for the Return to Ravnica Release Events Championship.

RETURN TO RAVNICA RELEASE EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPSTART TIME: Saturday, November 3, at 10:00 AM.LOCATION: Scheduled Events room.ENTRY OPTION(S): Invitation Only.PRODUCT:Magic Online will provide 6 Return to Ravnica booster packs for the sealed deck Swiss pairings rounds and 3 Return to Ravnica booster packs for the Top 8 booster draft.SIZE: Determined by number of qualified players.DURATION: Number of Swiss pairing rounds determined by attendance. The Top 8 will consist of drafting and deck building time plus three rounds, single elimination.PRIZES:

Place

Prizes

QPs

1st

4 complete premium Return to Ravnica sets

6

2nd

1 complete premium and 1 complete standard Return to Ravnica set

5

3rd–4th

1 complete premium Return to Ravnica set

4

5th–8th

1 complete standard Return to Ravnica set

3

9th–16th

12 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

17th–32nd

9 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

33rd–64th

3 Return to Ravnica booster packs

0

ADDITIONAL PRIZES: All players who participate in the Return to Ravnica Release Events Championship will receive one copy of the Return to Ravnica launch weekend promo card Deadbridge Goliath. All players in the Top 64 will also receive a premium copy of Deadbridge Goliath.

Although players may have multiple accounts qualified for the Return to Ravnica Release Events Championship, players are not permitted to have more than one of their accounts entered in any single event at one time. Players are not permitted to have any accounts entered in events played by other players for any reason. If a player is discovered to have more than one account playing in any end-of-season championship or championship event before, during, or after the event, Wizards may take action against that player's account(s), up to and including disqualification with no refund of product and/or event tickets, suspension of the offending account(s), and/or termination of the offending account(s).

Using an account other than your own, allowing any other player to use your account, selling your account, and other similar actions are all violations of the Magic Online User Agreement. If you play in Magic Online events, win, and expect to get your prize, be very, very sure you are playing on your own account. We do not recognize excuses, such as "I and a friend jointly own the account," "It's my brother's account but he gave it to me," or similar. The only exception is an adult may authorize a single dependent child age 13-18 to play on an account that the adult has established.

It will be the player's responsibility to make sure that he or she has been properly entered into this event and is able to join it PRIOR to the start of the Championship. If a player is qualified and is unable to join the Championship, he or she will need to contact customer service for assistance.

For all Return to Ravnica Release Events, Wizards of the Coast may modify, suspend, and/or cancel an event, substitute prizes, or change the costs and/or schedule for an event without notice, at its sole discretion.